Digital giants such as Elon Musk’s X could be hit with fines of up to $50 million if they failed to follow proposed laws to block under-16s from tech platforms, fuelling the government’s crackdown on social media.
As it moves to tamp down concerns about handing over identification to digital companies, the Albanese government will on Thursday put forward a world-first bill to ban younger teens from platforms such as X, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and others potentially including Snapchat.
The bill has support from the Coalition, which first floated a ban earlier this year, but internet experts, civil liberties groups and libertarian MPs have expressed worry about limiting the rights of teens to experience social connection. Other groups such as mental health bodies have backed the planned changes.
Crucial details about the technology that would enforce the ban remain undecided. But ahead of the legislation’s introduction, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said fines of up to $50 million could be handed to companies that systematically breached the law.
Trumpeting the proposals as globally significant, Rowland said they were geared towards “protecting young people and letting parents know we’ve got their backs”.
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“The legislation places the onus on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protections are in place,” she said.
“Ultimately, this is about supporting a safer and healthier online environment for young Australians.”
The government has not said exactly how users’ ages would be verified, but the eSafety Commissioner has previously suggested a “double-blind tokenised approach”, where a third party would certify the person’s details without revealing them to the social media platform.